Thomas benfield



(ModeL) T. BENFIELD, S. AUFHAUSER & A. MILNE. WATCH PROTECTOR.

No. 413,644 Patented Oct. 29, 1889! QWE ATTORNEY W/T/VESSES.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BENFIELD, OF NEYVARK, NEWV JERSEY, SAMUEL AUFIIAUSER, OF NElV YORK, N. Y., AND ALEXANDER MILNE, OF NEWARK, NEW" JER- SEY; SAID BENFIELD AND AUFHAUSER ASSIGNORS TO SAID MILNE.

WATCH-PROTECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,644, dated October 29, 1889. Application filed May 21, 1889- Serial No. 311,531. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS BENFIELD, a resident of Newark, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, and a subject of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and SAMUEL AUFHAUSER, a resident of New York city, county and State of New York, and ALEX- ANDER MILNE, a resident of Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, both citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vatch-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in watch-protectors, one object of the same bein g to provide a device which will prevent the watch-movement from becoming magnetized or influenced by magnetic currents when brought into proximity to dynamos or other electrical apparatus. Heretofore this object has been accomplished by securing within the watch-case a box, receptacle, or shield en tirely surrounding and inclosing the watchmovement, such box or shield being constructed of highly-magnetic metal, and which becomes when placed within the case a permanent part thereof. The same object has also been accomplished, or partially so, by constructing the watch-case wholly or partially of highly-magnetic metal, the effect in both instances being that the shield or watch-case will act as a reservoir for receiving and storing the magnetic or electric currents and prevent them from aifecting or influencing the watch-movement inclosed within the same. Many objections, however, have been urged against the above-described means, it being obviously impossible, in many instances, to alter a watch to allow the box or shield to be inserted, and in other cases it has been found to be an item of too great expense to make such alteration or change. The means we have hereinafter described have been devised with a view to overcoming these objections and to provide an article which maybe worn in connection with any watch without change to the latter, and which, instead of being permanently secured to the watch-case, is sepa rate therefrom, and which may or may not be worn, as desired.

Another end which we have had in view is to provide an article for effecting the purposes above described which shall be simple and economical in construction, and therefore capable of being manufactured and sold at a nominal figure. Further, to produce an article of this character which shall serve to protect the watch from scratching or disfigurement and from accidental bending and breakage.

Vith the above ends in view ourinvention consists, substantially, of a box or receptacle made of sheet-iron or other highly-magnetic metal of the same or approximately the same shape as a watch-case, and of such size as to nicely and snugly contain the same, an opening being made in the two sect-ions of the receptacle for the stem or pendant of the watch, theinterior of said receptacle being lined with plush, chamois-skin, or other soft non-mag- 7o netic material and the outer surface covered with paint, japan, leather, or other dressing to impart to the article a neat and finished appearance.

Our invention further consists of a receptacle or protector constructed of highly-magnetic metal and in two hinged sections, opening in a manner similar to a watch-case and having the center of one lid or section cut out for the purpose of allowing the face of a contained open-faced watch to be seen without raising said lid of the protector.

Our invention further consists of a receptacle constructed of highly-magnetic metal and in two sections, and a hinge constructed with a coiled spring the ends of which bear against said sections or lids, and through which a pin or pintle passes, the ends of the latter resting in folded projections formed on the sections or lids, as hereinafter more fully described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in whicl Figure 1 is a view of a piece of sheet-iron or other highly-magnetic metal, and from which the lids or sections are stamped. Fig. 2 is a view showing a piece of highly-magnetic sheet metal after a section or lid of the protector has been stamped therefrom and before thev edges have been cut or trimmed off. Fig. 3 is a view of two sections of the protector before being hinged. Fig. 4 is a view of a completed protector constructed for and containing an open-faced watch. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken 011 the line 00 a; of Fig. 4:, with the watch removed. Fig. 6 is a View of the hinge.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a piece of sheet metal highly magnetic, and preferably sheet-iron. By means of suitable dies (not shown) the piece A is stamped into the form shown in Fig. 2, the rounded portion B representing the lid or one section of the receptacle in size slightly larger than a watchcase. The outer portion of the plate A surrounding the lid B is cut or trimmed off with the exception of the projections or pieces 0., adapted toform seats for the pintle of the hinge, two of such projections being formed on each'section B. A recess Z) is formed beside one of the projections a on each lid for the reception of the corresponding projection on the adjoining lid when the two sections have been hinged together, as-shown in Fig. 6. These projections are folded over and form seats for the ends of pintle c, on which latter and between the two inner projections is wound the spring (1, one end 6 thereof bearing against one section orlid B, and the other end h bearing on the other lid, the tendency of the spring being to keep the two sections closed, as shown in Fig. 5.

On the inner surfaces of the two sections B is secured by cement or otherwise a lining G, of plush, velvet, chamois, or other soft fabric or material and non-magnetic in character, which serves as a nest or bed for the watch-case, and prevents it from coming in contact with the metal of which the receptacle is constructed and getting scratched or disfigured. These means we have found far superior to the chamoisskin bag usually employed for the same purpose, and the protector being constructed of metal prevents the contained watch from accidental breakage, and therefore superior to the 01d form ofbag, especially to machinists, bicycle-riders, and others whose watches are exposed to danger-of being accidentally broken or damaged.

In order to allow the stem of the watch to project through the receptacle, a recess 71 is cut in each section B, and the center of one of the lids is also provided with an opening when adapted for use in connection with an open-faced watch, and through which the dial of the watch may be seen without opening the receptacle.

It is obvious that the watch when placed within the protector may be easily seen or consulted without removing it from the latter, the protector being lifted from the vestpocket by the wearer at the same time with the contained watch.

In order to prevent the watch-case from becoming marked or scratched by the hinge, a piece of leather or other materiall is placed over the hinge and secured under the lining O. The outer surface of the receptacle may be covered or coated with paint, lacquer, japan,leather, or other material, for the purpose of giving a neat and finished appearance to the article.

It will be noticed that the two sections of thereceptacle are joined or hinged to open in a manner similar to a watch-case, and may be made of any or all sizes to adapt them to fit a watch of any size.

As the article is entirely separate from the watch, it is obvious that it may be used or worn at such times only as is necessary or desired.

We are aware that safety devices have been made for the purpose of preventing the watch from being stolen or unknowingly removed from the pocket of the wearer, such devices being so constructed and intended to be permanently fastened to the vest-pocket, and constructed of metal, and hence we make no claim to such device; but,

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a watchprotector adapted to contain or hold a watch and constructed of sheet-iron in two sections B B, the latter being provided with the projections Z7, and joined together by means of a coiled-spring hinge, consisting of the pintle c and spring d, protected by the leather or other material 1, allowing said protector to be opened and the watch consulted without removing said watch from the protector, the inner surfaces of said sections B being covered with plush or other fabric, andthe outer surfaces with japan, paint, or other like substance, substantiall as set forth.

Signed at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, this 8th day of May, 1889.

THOMAS BENFIELD. SAMUEL AUFHAUSER. ALEXANDER MILNE.

NVitnesses:

FRED C. RIEcKERs, HERMAN GUsTow. 

